"I am back," Cooper announced via her Facebook page. "As most of you know I have been under the weather for quite some time now. But the good news is that I will be going back to work next week. Boy I did get hit hard with a nasty bug! Thank you all for your well wishes. They mean so very much to me. I love to all and hope to be able to post more often. Much, much love, Jeanne."
During Cooper's illness, Y&R tapped the former star of The Waltons, Michael Learned, to temporarily step into Katherine's shoes.

"Michael Learned is an accomplished actress and we are grateful that she is able to fill in for Jeanne Cooper for this short time," Maria Arena Bell, Y&R's executive producer and head writer, said in a statement.

"Jeanne is an integral part of our show and we look forward to her imminent return," Bell added. "We have great storyline coming up for Mrs. Chancellor."

Learned will first appear on-screen beginning November 10. Cooper will first appear on-screen on December 23.